He has scarcely any idea of these advantages at all.

You can describe them to him, but the description will have no perceptible effect upon his mind.

Those faculties by which we bring the future vividly before us so as to influence our present action, are not yet developed.

His cerebral organization has not yet advanced to that condition, any more than his bones have advanced to the hardness, rigidness, and strength of manhood.

His mind is only capable of being influenced strongly by what is present, or, at least, very near.
It is the design of Divine Providence that this should be so.